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Banana Republic opens doors of online store

The apparel retailer is launching its online store, revving up parent company Gap Incorporated's e-commerce strategy in time for the holiday season.

Apparel retailer Banana Republic has launched its online store, revving up parent company Gap Incorporated's e-commerce strategy in time for the holiday season.

Banana Republic's online store includes men's and women's fashion areas, as well as household items such as sheets, towels, and glassware. The site also includes an area that helps customers find gifts and buy gift certificates.

Company representatives were not available for comment.

Banana Republic launched a placeholder site last month and announced the official launch date for their Web store. Sister retailer Gap has been selling online for about two years, and parent company Gap Incorporated launched online stores for its BabyGap and GapKids chains last year.

Old Navy, another Gap Incorporated-owned chain, launched a temporary site last month about the same time Banana Republic appeared online. Since then, the site has been updated to sell gift certificates and offer product and store information, but it does not yet include a full e-commerce store.

An Old Navy representative declined to say whether the company would launch its online store before Christmas.

Banana Republic's online debut comes just days after rival The Limited acknowledged that many of its chains, including The Limited and Express, would not be online in time for the holiday season.